How To Flash and Configure Your TM UniFi DIR-615 (D-Link) To DD-WRT Firmware

How To Flash Your TM UniFi DIR-615 (D-Link) To DD-WRT Firmware

The TM provided DIR-615 (the orange router) with custom DD-WRT firmware. The primary goal of this guide will basically be to guide users who wish to flash their TM provided Unifi DIR-615 routers with dd-wrt. However, users who have spare dd-wrt flashed routers around will also be able to use the information here, to set up the VLAN tagging for the PPPoE connection that is required by Unifi.

Advantages of Using DD-WRT firmware

1. The router gets increased stability
2. Less lockups/crashes
3. Less connection drops (I'm looking at you, generic VPN protocol!)
4. Support for a larger amount of concurrent connections
5. The ability to increase your wifi signal strength (stock firmware has really weak wifi transmit power)

Disadvantages of Using DD-WRT firmware

1. Unifi home users (VIP5/10/20) lose IPTV access
2. You lose TM support for your Unifi service (it was pretty much non-existent in the first place!)
3. You probably void the warranty on the router
4. You might brick the router if you don't know what you're doing

 

WARNING!!

1. Before we begin, we would like to  remind that we are not responsible, if you absolutely screwed up your UniFi router and are left with dial-up/Streamyx access for the next 3 weeks (or at least until TM decides it's time to pass you a new unit). 
2. This guide requires basic to advanced networking computer knowledge. Read through all the steps that listed down here and make sure you understand it. If you don't, get a friend who does to follow this guide and do it for you.

Requirements (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THESE FIRST!!):

1. Original TM DIR-615 G2 Firmware (Just for backup)
2. Brainslayer's DD-WRT DIR-615 REV D factory webflash - http://dd-wrt.com/others/eko/BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2/2010/08-07-10-r14896/dlink-dir615d/dlink-dir615d-factory-webflash.bin

Understanding The Requirements

1. Router's firmware revision - This can found in the bottom of the router. (The D-Link DIR-615 Revision G2 runs on RT3052F@384 chipset which is same with Revision Dx, so using firmware from Dx version is possible)
2. The firmware is supported - We can check this via dd-wrt router-database. 

   

   Understand the requirements

3. Router's firmware revision
   

   

   Router's firmware revision above is G2. See H/W Ver.

   
   

STEP (1 OF 3) - HOW TO FLASH TM UniFi DIR-615 Router TO DD-WRT (10 Steps With Picture)

1. Set a static IP for your PC in the 192.168.0.x range with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 (Example: 192.168.0.50).
2. Connect a network cable from your computer's network interface card to the WAN PORT (not LAN port, WAN port) of your DIR-615 G1.
3. Turn off your DIR-615. The router is now in Emergency Room mode. (Hold down a pin to the RESET button of the router (at the back next to its power socket) and turn on the router while holding this RESET button down. If you did this properly, the power button on the router should now be orange and blinking continuously)
4. Open up Internet Explorer and head over to http://192.168.0.1/ 
   You should be able to see the Emergency Room interface. 
   (Please use Internet Explorer as Firefox/Google Chrome can cause some weird issues with this particular web interface)

   

   Emergency Roon After Reset The DIR-615 Router

5. Hit the Browse button and select the Brainslayer DIR-615 rev D webflash firmware (dlink-dir615d-factory-webflash.bin) that you downloaded earlier. Upload it to the router. (Upon a successful upload, you should be able to see a success confirmation message)

   

   Page After Successfully Flash The DD-WRT Image

6. Let the router reboot by itself. 
7. Once power light turns GREEN..  Unplug the network cable from the WAN port and plug into any LAN port on the DIR-615 router (Recommended, ports 1-3).
8. The routers IP should now be 192.168.1.1, so change your PC's LAN IP from 192.168.0.0/255.255.255.0 to something in the 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0 range. (Example: 192.168.1.50 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0)
9. Go to http://192.168.1.1 and configure your router's security (password) settings. 
10. Before you continue to setup your PPPoE link, please setup your wireless security. The wireless radio should be on by default and will be accepting connections.
11. YOU ARE DONE FOR FLASHING THE DD-WRT IMAGE INTO D-LINK DIR-615 ROUTER!! CONTINUE TO SECOND STEP. STEP 2 OF 3 BELOW.

STEP (2 OF 3) - HOW TO SETUP VLAN TAGGING IN DD-WRT (15 Steps With Picture)

1. Go to http://192.168.1.1
2. Go to Setup -> Networking tab in the web interface.
3. Go to VLAN TAGGING group -> Tagging subgroup -> press Add butoon -> Select 'vlan2' as the interface -> key-in '500' as the tag number. (We have to set the WAN Interface Port, so that it can communicate with the modem. In this router, for DD-WRT image, 'vlan2' is the WAN interface port)

   

    VLAN TAGGING

4. Scroll down, click "Save" -> "Apply Settings" -> click "Administration" tab -> "Reboot" the router. (It's very important to reboot the router every time I mention it or some settings may not be applied properly)
5. After this first reboot, means that you have set the VLAN TAGGING.
6. Now, go to Setup -> Networking tab.
7. Go to PORT SETUP group -> PORT SETUP subgroup -> select 'vlan2.500' as the WAN Port Assignment.

8. 

   WAN Port Assignment

   Scroll down, click "Save" -> "Apply Settings" -> click "Administration" tab -> "Reboot" the router.
9. After this second reboot, means that you have set the VLAN for the WAN Port assignment.
10. Now, go to Setup -> Networking tab.
11. Go to PORT SETUP group -> PORT SETUP subgroup -> and apply as below.

12. 

    PORT VALUES
    
    

    Scroll down, click "Save" -> "Apply Settings" -> click "Administration" tab -> "Reboot" the router. (Ensure that your Fiber optic/VDSL BTU is now wired directly into the WAN port of your DIR-615 (as usual) so that you can setup the PPPoE settings next)
13. After this third reboot, means that you have configure for the port values.
14. Your final settings for the Networking tab should look like below. 

15. 

    Final Networking Perfect Settings

    Please take note that other routers will use a different WAN interface name when running DD-WRT. The TM DIR-615 G1 should always use 'vlan2' as its WAN port name ut other routers may use eth0/eth1/eth2/vlan1/vlan2. 
16. YOU ARE DONE FOR SETUP VLAN TAGGING IN DD-WRT INTO D-LINK DIR-615 ROUTER!! CONTINUE TO THE LAST STEP, STEP 3 OF 3 BELOW..

STEP (3 OF 3) - HOW TO CONFIGURE PPPOE ACCOUNT IN DD-WRT (6 Steps)

1. Go to http://192.168.1.1
2. Go to Setup -> Basic Setup -> WAN Setup group -> WAN Connection Type subgroup -> select "PPPOE" as the connection type.
3. Key in username and password 

   

   PPPOE SETUP

4. If everything went well, you should have a fully working dd-wrt DIR-615 (without IPTV support of course) which is much more stable than the previous firmware.
5. To check your status, go to "Status" -> "WAN"

   

   Internet Connection Status (LOGIN STATUS MUST GET CONNECTED)

6. Check the speedtest. 

   

   Internet Speedtest using speedtest.net

   

   Internet Speedtest using speed.p1.com.my/

   
   
7. YOU ARE DONE FOR SETUP PPPOE ACCOUNT IN DD-WRT INTO D-LINK DIR-615 ROUTER!! CONGRATS!!

ADVANCE SETTINGS TO INCREASE WIRELESS SIGNAL IN DD-WRT

DD-WRT can also increase the transmit power of your wifi network in the advanced settings page of its wireless settings. Increasing this value to 120+ produces a noticeably stronger wifi access point signal which can be picked up by your wifi capable devices (laptops, phones, etc.).

1. Go to "Wireless" -> "Advanced Settings" -> "Advanced Wireless Settings" group -> "Advanced Settings" subgroup

   

   Change the value in TX Power box

   
   
2. YOU ARE DONE!!

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